CH 52

I went into the bathroom.

My tension was relieved a little as I soaked in the warm water.

‘How can I meet Elliot?’

I pondered with a clearer mind.

It was great to arrive at Transcell without incident.

But the most significant event is about to occur.

‘First, I need to get away from Ian and take the opportunity to find him alone.’

The problem is that Ian does not trust me.

Even if he had seen any signs of me leaving the inn, that I was leaving the inn, he would have told me to remain still in the room with his eyes blazing.

‘How do I get away from Ian?’ How can I…….’

While thinking in despair, I heard a faint noise from the first floor.

It was the sound of knights loudly eating and drinking.

They are all solemn and courteous, but they seemed relaxed today. That’s understandable.

A twinkling light bulb lit up in my head when I heard the chatter.

‘Hold on a second. Alcohol?’

The pages of the original book went through my mind.

Ian had one unexpected point.

He’s not a good drinker.

‘Accidentally, he drank strong alcohol and destroyed the training ground only with a sword.’

It was a scene in the original novel that was used to describe how strong Ian was.

It was also the scene where the heroine first fell in love with Ian…..

‘It’s unusual for the heroine to fall in love while witnessing the training ground being destroyed.’

But anyway. 

The only thing that could put Ian out was alcohol.

I would try not to get drunk as much as possible, but……

‘This is the night of our victory.’

He defeated the King of Incubus yesterday and reclaimed the Holy Stone, and today he swept away the remaining of beasts.

There is no doubt that a special day should be commemorated.

‘Given that it’s the day, maybe there’s a chance?’

Perhaps that guy who lives his life like a sword has softened a little.

It wouldn’t be bad to try. I made up my decision and went out the bathroom door.

Ian was sitting on the desk chair, checking the unfamiliar documents.

He didn’t even look back at me when I came out of the bathroom; he seemed very focused on the documents.

‘How should I suggest that we go down for a drink?’

I walked to the right side of the bed and then back to the left.

Walking was my habit whenever I was in trouble.

‘I’m hungry. Do you want to go down to eat? No, I’m sure he’ll order the kitchen to put the meal on. If you want to talk to the knights…….’

“What are you doing that makes you restless?”

Hukkk.

Ian abruptly turned to face me, his eyes blazing.

I thought you didn’t even care.

“I-I am sorry. Did it bother you to read the documents?”

“Because you’re flapping around like a flying beast.”

A flying beast. Flapping.

I kept my mouth shut at the unexpected insult.

“I think you’re planning something else this time.”

Ian slammed the stack of papers down loudly, which startled me.

He turned completely towards me.

“Well, let’s be honest.”

This ghost man.

I pretended not to know for now.

“What do you mean by planning on something? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m sure there’s a reason you’ve been around 10 times on both sides and 20 times in the same spot.”

No. Do you know me that much?

My tongue was pushed into the inside, and he knew exactly what I was doing, which I wasn’t even aware of. Do you have eyes behind you when you become a sword master?

“No, I’m not. Hmm, so…… That’s because I’m a little hungry.”

“I’ll go to the restaurant.”

“I, maybe. Can I come down and eat?”

Ian frowned and drew his brows together.

“Why?”

“Well, hearing the people downstairs having a good time made me want to look around. I’ve been going with those knights for a few days now, but I’ve never actually spoken to them.”

“Should I disband them?”

“Are they my husband’s subordinates?”

When Ian heard the word ‘husband,’ his face stiffened slightly.

Is it awkward to refer to him as a husband when you refer to me as your wife?

I moved closer to Ian because I thought I’d discovered a few gaps.

“It’s a good day, and it wouldn’t look good if the boss and his wife stayed in their rooms. They might be curious as to what the two of us are up to…?”

Ian’s face hardened as he was taken aback.

Ian’s eyes seemed to become a little more hardened.

“Your subordinates downstairs are probably imagining the situation in this room by now……?”

I lowered my voice and bowed my upper body slightly to Ian instinctively.

Because I was whispering to Ian, there were no more than two spans between us.

“Of course, it would be nice to look like a couple, but it’s embarrassing if it’s too explicit. Right?”

Ian stared at me, standing with his mouth closed in a straight line.

Well, was the line a little too provocative?

Looking back, I realized that the distance between Ian and me was again too close.

Ian’s blue eyes were dyed warm colours due to the owner’s unnecessarily subtle lighting in the interior of the room.

‘Pretty.’

Suddenly, such a feeling flooded my mind.

At the same time, the alarm sounded.

It’s dangerous.

My heart was thumping against the inside of my chest. Hearing a heartbeat in your ear is crazy enough.

It was only later that I was able to get my act together.

“…This scent.”

Ian, who had wrinkled his brow, shifted his gaze to the side.

Smell?

I couldn’t understand what he was saying as I tried to calm my racing heart.

“Did you put the bath salt in the tub?”

Ian, who spoke in a spit, abruptly stood up and drew the curtain back.

I silently sniffed the smell of my hair as I breathed in the cool night air.

‘Isn’t it just a light rose fragrance?’

Does your sense of smell become sensitive when you become a sword master?

Anyway, I was happy. I had no idea that if I had stayed any longer, he might have heard my heart beating for no reason.

Ian drew back the curtain and looked at me. He was so dissatisfied that his face tensed up like the northerly wind.

……Did you not hear that?

“Okay, if that’s what you want, we can go down.”

“Uh, yes? Really?”

I thought he would be angry because he had a cold expression on his face, but he unexpectedly gave me permission.

Ian quickly turned around and crossed the doorway first without answering my question.

It was probably just a misunderstanding on his part that it felt like I was running away.

‘Running with Ian is a mishmash of words that don’t quite fit together.’

With a grin, I followed Ian.

***

The restaurant was packed with knights, making the place quite noisy.

The Holy Knights, who always seemed conscientious and earnest, ran wild like untethered foals.

I understood this. This was a triumphant night, but I’m sure they’ll be disappointed that they had to leave so many of their colleagues first.

The most effective way to shake off the deep ambivalence had to be alcohol.

“Master! No, here’s a bottle. There are ten more bottles…. Oh no. Saintess?”

“C-Commander!”

“Hiccup.”

When Ian and I walked in, the noisy restaurant fell silent.

But only for a short time. The knights who slowly approached me started talking to me.

“The victory was all thanks to the captain and the saintess.”

“Yes, of course. At that time, the leader carrying the Saintess was like a warrior rescuing the princess.”

“Augh, if someone had taken the picture, all of the children’s book illustrators would have lost their jobs.”

At first, he was wary of Ian, but when there were no punishments against him, the knights seemed to become more excited, and their voices shot up.

“I’ve always wanted to speak with the saintess, and it is an honor to have such an opportunity.”

“Haha, my apologies. I should have talked to you earlier, but Sir Ian didn’t let me go.”

“Oh, gosh.”

“Oh, okay. Ehem.”

The knights began to cough and blush.

“The Commander is so……Uh hmm.”

“What kind of dirty thoughts are you having?”

Ian had a cold expression on his face as he looked at the coughing knights.

“Right now, stop thinking dirty thoughts.”

“Oh, yes. I’m sorry. I was just surprised at the unexpected thought….”

“T-That’s right. It’s something we do because we enjoy it. Who’d have guessed the Commander and the Saintess would become such a wonderful couple? hahaha.”

The knight with dark brown curly hair smiled flatly.

“But to be married to such a wise and beautiful person, we were actually really thrilled.”

“Is it only wise and beautiful?

“We were deeply moved by your decision to go down to such a dangerous battlefield as Rycallion.”

“The idea that the saintess is with us has boosted our spirits even more.”

“Haha…..It is an honor to hear that.”

I laughed hollowly at the baptism of praise that was too difficult to bear, then drank a glass of wine.

No, wait. It’s not my time to drink, but Ian should.

“Have a drink too, Ian.”

I tipped the bottle into Ian’s already full glass.

“It’s done.”

“It’s a good day. Right?”

I proposed a toast by raising my glass.

“My hand hurts, honey.”

Ian gave me a sweet look.

I gave Ian a quick glance.

Can you see your subordinates watching us? Are you going to keep staring at me like that? Isn’t it obvious that everyone is looking forward to seeing us?

“Ha.”

Ian sighed briefly, then lifted his glass.

I didn’t expect you to follow me. Screaming with joy inside, I quickly cheered my glass against Ian’s glass.

It was an excellent wine for savouring.

I emptied the cup unintentionally, and the knights filled it with new ones.

Then I filled Ian’s cup again.

What’s even more surprising is that Ian somehow didn’t reject it.

With a wistful look, he emptied his drink continuously.

Now that I think about it, his face has been strangely stiff since the moment I mentioned the bath salt.

‘Well, they say that after a battle, your senses become more sensitive.’

It would also be good to dull your sensitive senses with alcohol.

While Ian is feeling tipsy, I take advantage of the opportunity to find Elliot.

It was a perfect win-win operation.

But something was strange.

‘…… Why not get drunk?’

Although it was already over the fifth cup, Ian was no different from usual.

His skin, as white as moonlight, had not turned red, and his eyes were clear as usual.

“Hahaha. So, you know. I told you. I will not forgive you in the name of God!”

“Hahaha. That’s cool!”

The knights began to joke around individually as they stared nervously into Ian’s eyes,  but Ian was not distracted.

‘I’m sure you’re not good at drinking.’

It was strange.

I looked at the watch anxiously.

It was getting close to midnight.

I’ll feel pressured to go out if it gets any later.

‘Should I go to the owner and ask him to bring him something stronger?’

This was the time to plan it.

Knock knock!

There was a ruckus outside.

“Oh no, it’s those guys again.”

The owner hurriedly ran out.

“I’m sorry, knights. The bad guys are making a scene again.”

The owner rushed to the kitchen. It looked like he was going to go out through the side door.

Soon the owner’s loud voice was heard in the back alley.

“Shut up, you bastards! Why are you doing this to me again?”

“Oh, get out of here. I’m doing something important right now.”

The voice of a teen going through a difficult adolescent period reached my ears.

What exactly is going on?

I turned my head and looked over the door.

I saw a scene where some bullies were causing a ruckus.

“Haha! You’re so stubborn.”

“Take this! Take this!”

What is he doing?

I frowned at the sight of someone bothering him.

“…Give it to me.”

Then I heard a low, scratching boy’s voice in my ear.

“Say something nice, give it to him. If you don’t want to lose one by one tomorrow.”

“Uh-huh, you’re scared.”

“What’s so precious about a bracelet that’s all worn out? Isn’t it because it’s a keepsake from your mother?”

Bracelet? Mother’s keepsake?

My eyes were wide open.

An old string bracelet. It was a keepsake from his mother, whom the main character Elliot valued more than his life.